The production of the $\psi(2S)$ charmonium state was measured with ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV, in the dimuon decay channel. A significant signal was observed for the first time at LHC energies down to zero transverse momentum, at forward rapidity ($2.5<y<4$). The measurement of the ratio of the inclusive production cross sections of the $\psi(2S)$ and J/$\psi$ resonances is reported as a function of the centrality of the collisions and of transverse momentum, in the region $p_{\rm T}<12$ GeV/$c$. The results are compared with the corresponding measurements in pp collisions, by forming the double ratio $[\sigma^{\psi(2S)}/\sigma^{J/\psi}]_{\rm{Pb-Pb}}/[\sigma^{\psi(2S)}/\sigma^{J/\psi}]_{\rm{pp}}$. It is found that in Pb-Pb collisions the $\psi(2S)$ is suppressed by a factor of $\sim 2$ with respect to the J/$\psi$. The $\psi(2S)$ nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ was also obtained as a function of both centrality and $p_{\rm T}$. The results show that the $\psi(2S)$ resonance yield is strongly suppressed in Pb-Pb collisions, by a factor up to $\sim 3$ with respect to pp. Comparisons of cross section ratios with previous SPS findings by the NA50 experiment and of $R_{\rm AA}$ with higher-$p_{\rm T}$ results at LHC energy are also reported. These results and the corresponding comparisons with calculations of transport and statistical models address questions on the presence and properties of charmonium states in the quark-gluon plasma formed in nuclear collisions at the LHC.
Ratio of the $\psi$(2S) over J/$\psi$ cross sections, not corrected for the branching ratio, shown as a function of centrality
Double ratio of the $\psi$(2S) over J/$\psi$ cross sections in Pb--Pb and pp collisions shown as a function of centrality
Nuclear modification factor of the $\psi$(2S) shown as a function of centrality
The production yield and angular anisotropy of prompt ${D_s^+}$ mesons were measured as a function of transverse momentum ($p_{ T}$) in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{ NN}} = 5.02$ TeV collected with the ALICE detector at the LHC. ${D_s^+}$ mesons and their charge conjugates were reconstructed at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) from their hadronic decay channel ${D_s^+ \to \phi \pi^+}$, with ${\phi \to K^-K^+}$, in the $p_{ T}$ intervals $2<p_{ T}<50$ GeV/$c$ and $2<p_{ T}<36$ GeV/$c$ for the 0-10% and 30-50% centrality intervals. For $p_{ T}>10$ GeV/$c$, the measured ${D_s^+}$-meson nuclear modification factor $R_{ AA}$ is consistent with the one of non-strange D mesons within uncertainties, while at lower $p_{ T}$ a hint for a ${D_s^+}$-meson $R_{ AA}$ larger than that of non-strange D mesons is seen. The enhanced production of ${D_s^+}$ relative to non-strange D mesons is also studied by comparing the $p_{ T}$-dependent ${D_s^+/D^0}$ production yield ratios in Pb-Pb and in pp collisions. The ratio measured in Pb-Pb collisions is found to be on average higher than that in pp collisions in the interval $2<p_{ T} <8$ GeV/$c$ with a significance of 2.3$\sigma$ and 2.4$\sigma$ for the 0-10% and 30-50% centrality intervals. The azimuthal anisotropy coefficient $v_2$ of prompt ${D_s^+}$ mesons was measured in Pb-Pb collisions in the 30-50% centrality interval and is found to be compatible with that of non-strange D mesons. The main features of the measured $R_{ AA}$, ${D_s^+/D^0}$ ratio, and $v_2$ as a function of $p_{ T}$ are described by theoretical calculations of charm-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding quark-gluon plasma including hadronisation via charm-quark recombination with light quarks from the medium. The $p_{ T}$-integrated production yield of ${D_s^+}$ mesons is compatible with the prediction of the statistical hadronisation model.
$p_\mathrm{T}$-differential production yield of prompt $\mathrm{D_s^+}$ mesons in the 0-10% centrality class in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $|y|<0.5$. Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D_s^+\to \phi\pi^+\to K^-K^+\pi^+}$: 0.0224
$p_\mathrm{T}$-differential production yield of prompt $\mathrm{D_s^+}$ mesons in the 0-10% centrality class in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $|y|<0.5$. Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D_s^+\to \phi\pi^+\to K^-K^+\pi^+}$: 0.0224
$p_\mathrm{T}$-differential production yield of prompt $\mathrm{D_s^+}$ mesons in the 30-50% centrality class in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $|y|<0.5$. Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D_s^+\to \phi\pi^+\to K^-K^+\pi^+}$: 0.0224
The first measurements of the production of muons and electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays in Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV, using the ALICE detector at the LHC, are reported. The measurement of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ is performed as a function of transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$ in several centrality classes at forward rapidity ($2.5 < y <4$) and midrapidity ($\vert y \vert < 0.8$) for muons and electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays, respectively. A suppression by a factor up to about 2.5 compared to the binary-scaled pp reference is observed in central collisions at both central and forward rapidities. The $R_{\rm AA}$ of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays is compared to previous measurements in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. When the nuclear modification factors are compared in the centrality classes 0-10% for Xe-Xe collisions and 10-20% for Pb-Pb collisions, which have similar charged-particle multiplicity density, a similar suppression, with $R_{\rm AA} \sim 0.4$ in the $p_{\rm T}$ interval $4 < p_{\rm T} < 8$ GeV/$c$, is observed. The comparison of the measured $R_{\rm AA}$ values in the two collision systems brings new insights on the properties of the quark-gluon plasma by investigating the system-size and path-length dependence of medium-induced parton energy loss. The results of muons and electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays provide new constraints to model calculations.
Transverse momentum differential production of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity in Xe-Xe collisions at 5.44 TeV.
Transverse momentum differential production of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity in Xe-Xe collisions at 5.44 TeV.
Transverse momentum differential production of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity in Xe-Xe collisions at 5.44 TeV.
The inclusive transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) distributions of primary charged particles are measured in the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta|<0.8$ as a function of event centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The data are presented in the $p_{\rm T}$ range $0.15<p_{\rm T}<50$ GeV/$c$ for nine centrality intervals from 70-80% to 0-5%. The Pb-Pb spectra are presented in terms of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm{AA}}$ using a pp reference spectrum measured at the same collision energy. We observe that the suppression of high-$p_{\rm T}$ particles strongly depends on event centrality. In central collisions (0-5%) the yield is most suppressed with $R_{\rm{AA}}\approx0.13$ at $p_{\rm T}=6$-7 GeV/$c$. Above $p_{\rm T}=7$ GeV/$c$, there is a significant rise in the nuclear modification factor, which reaches $R_{\rm{AA}} \approx0.4$ for $p_{\rm T}>30$ GeV/$c$. In peripheral collisions (70-80%), the suppression is weaker with $R_{\rm{AA}} \approx 0.7$ almost independently of $p_{\rm T}$. The measured nuclear modification factors are compared to other measurements and model calculations.
Normalized differential primary charged particle yield in the centrality interval 0-5%.
Normalized differential primary charged particle yield in the centrality interval 5-10%.
Normalized differential primary charged particle yield in the centrality interval 10-20%.
The ALICE Collaboration has measured the inclusive production of muons from heavy flavour decays at forward rapidity, 2.5 < y < 4, in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential inclusive cross section of muons from heavy flavour decays in pp collisions is compared to perturbative QCD calculations. The nuclear modification factor is studied as a function of pt and collision centrality. A weak suppression is measured in peripheral collisions. In the most central collisions, a suppression of a factor of about 3-4 is observed in 6 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 10 GeV/$c$. The suppression shows no significant $p_{\rm T}$ dependence.
Transverse momentum differential inclusive cross section of muons from heavy-flavour decays in the rapidity range 2.5-4.
RAA of muons from heavy-flavour decays in the rapidity range 2.5-4 as a function of PT in the 0-10% and 40-80% centrality classes. The second (sys) error is the separate normalization error for each class.
RAA of muons from heavy-flavour decays as a function of the mean number of participating nucleons, NPART, in the rapidity range 2.5-4.0 and PT 6-10 GeV. The first (sys) error is the correlated systematic error and the second is the uncorrelated systematic error.
The ALICE experiment has measured the inclusive J/$\psi$ production in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}} } = 2.76$ TeV down to zero transverse momentum in the rapidity range $2.5 < y < 4$. A suppression of the inclusive J/$\psi$ yield in Pb-Pb is observed with respect to the one measured in pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. The nuclear modification factor, integrated over the 0-80% most central collisions, is $0.545 \pm 0.032 \rm{(stat.)} \pm 0.083 \rm{(syst.)}$ and does not exhibit a significant dependence on the collision centrality. These features appear significantly different from measurements at lower collision energies. Models including J/$\psi$ production from charm quarks in a deconfined partonic phase can describe our data.
Jpsi Nuclear Modification Factor (Raa) measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 2.76 TeV in 2.5 < y < 4 and pt > 0 GeV/c, as a function of - the average number of participating nucleons (<Npart>), - the average number of participating nucleons (<Npart,w>) weigthed by the average number of binary collisions, - the mid-rapidity charged-particle density measured at pseudo-rapidity eta = 0 dNch,w/deta|eta=0 weigthed by the average number of binary collisions.
Centrality integrated (0%-80%) inclusive Jpsi Nuclear Modification Factor (Raa) measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 2.76 TeV as a function of rapidity for two transverse momentum ranges.
Inclusive transverse momentum spectra of primary charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV have been measured by the ALICE Collaboration at the LHC. The data are presented for central and peripheral collisions, corresponding to 0-5% and 70-80% of the hadronic Pb-Pb cross section. The measured charged particle spectra in $|\eta|<0.8$ and $0.3 < p_T < 20$ GeV/$c$ are compared to the expectation in pp collisions at the same $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$, scaled by the number of underlying nucleon-nucleon collisions. The comparison is expressed in terms of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$. The result indicates only weak medium effects ($R_{\rm AA} \approx $ 0.7) in peripheral collisions. In central collisions, $R_{\rm AA}$ reaches a minimum of about 0.14 at $p_{\rm T}=6$-7GeV/$c$ and increases significantly at larger $p_{\rm T}$. The measured suppression of high-$p_{\rm T}$ particles is stronger than that observed at lower collision energies, indicating that a very dense medium is formed in central Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC.
PT distributions of primary charged particles at mid-rapidity in central and peripheral PB-PB collisions.
PT distributions of primary charged particles at mid-rapidity in central and peripheral PB-PB collisions estimated from scaled PP data as described in the text of the paper.
Measurments of RAA, the nuclear modification factor (rate of PB-PB to P P cross section) in the central region.
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